ISLAMABAD: Punjab Colours and Pakistan Board teams battled their way to the final of S& I 4th U-18 Junior Girls National Hockey Championship at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium on Friday.

In the first semi-final, Punjab Colours thrashed Islamabad 8-1 in their own backyard with Rimsha Ilyas and Saba Riaz scoring three goals each.

In the action-packed second semi-final between Pakistan Board’s hockey team and Punjab Whites, the former emerged victorious following a penalty shootout win when the match ended in a 2-2 tie.

In this fourth edition of the championship, which is an annual activity of Pakistan Hockey Federation Women’s Wing, a total of eight teams representing all four provinces and a few departments participated.

While emphasising the need to encourage women’s participation in hockey, S&I Sports Director Mustafa Humayun said: “We have a vision to harness the talent of country for both the men’s and women’s notional hockey teams. In partnership with Pakistan Hockey Federation, we are putting in concerted efforts to revive hockey in Pakistan.”

The championship’s final will be played on Saturday (today).

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2016